Housing Eligibility Certificate

A residence entitlement certificate is issued to the applicant upon application by the competent authority of the home municipality/(future) place of residence if the applicant is not only staying temporarily in the Federal Republic of Germany and wishes to establish a permanent residence as the center of his or her life.

The residence entitlement certificate will only be issued if the income limit is not exceeded.

The residence entitlement certificate contains information about the persons, the living space or living rooms of the apartment to be occupied.

The issue of the certificate of eligibility for housing is usually subject to a fee and the amount of the fee depends on the respective federal state.

• Households whose qualifying income does not exceed the relevant income limit receive a housing entitlement certificate. This depends on the number of people in the household and the relevant subsidy programs. A housing entitlement certificate is issued if the total income of the household does not exceed the income limit (depends on the respective federal state) or, in the case of certain housing, does not exceed it by a specified percentage.
• The total income of the household is made up of the sum of the positive income (usually the gross annual income) of all persons belonging to the household less childcare costs and other possible deductions in accordance with §§ 14, 15 WFNG. It is calculated in accordance with state or federal regulations.
• In exceptional cases, a certificate of eligibility for housing may also be issued without complying with the relevant income limits if particular hardship is to be avoided or if another subsidized apartment is made available for this purpose. This must be examined on a case-by-case basis.

• Identity card or residence permit/passport
• Registration certificate
• Application form/declaration of income form (both completed)

All proof of income from the previous and current calendar year is required

Possible proof of income:

• Salary/wage statements/income tax assessment notice
• Pension statements/pension payments (retirement pension, company pension, survivor's pension, orphan's pension, other pensions)
• For self-employed persons, profit and loss account (P&L) or income surplus statement (EÜR) and last income tax assessment notice
• Proof of sickness benefit
• Notices of approval for unemployment benefit 1 or unemployment benefit 2 (Harz IV)
• Notices of approval for basic income support (social welfare office)
• BAföGBescheide/vocational training allowance (BAB)
• Parental allowance/maternity allowance
• Proof of maintenance payments received or advance maintenance payments (UVG)
• Care allowance

Other documents

• Proof of severe disability/degree of care (if available)
• Maternity pass/proof of pregnancy
• Proof of maintenance obligation
• Other proof - e.g. medical certificates, marital status, etc.

• The certificate of eligibility for housing is valid after it has been issued in accordance with the law of the respective federal state (you can move into a subsidized apartment within this period).

• Fees and costs are incurred in accordance with the law of the respective federal state.

• Housing use regulations (WNB)
• Income Determination Decree (EEE)
• Act on the Promotion of Social Housing (Housing Promotion Act WoFG)